antargatopamā

 Antargatopamā is a Sanskrit literary device meaning a ‘concealed simile,’ where the comparative particle (like, as, इव) is omitted, rendering the comparison implicit rather than explicit.

Definition and Etymology

The term antargatopamā is a compound of antargata (अन्तर्गत), meaning ‘contained within’ or ‘internal,’ and upamā (उपमा), meaning ‘simile’ or ‘comparison’

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. Together, it literally conveys ‘a simile contained within’, emphasizing that the comparative aspect is implied rather than directly stated. This type of simile is also referred to as a hidden or concealed comparison, as the grammatical marker of comparison (such as यथा ‘like’ or इव ‘as’) is deliberately omitted

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Literary Usage

In Sanskrit literature, antargatopamā is used to create subtlety and elegance in poetic expression. For instance, rather than explicitly stating that something is like another thing, the poet allows the audience to perceive the comparison internally, enhancing literary nuance. An example described in classical commentaries is:
jalanidhimīyurataḥ sametya māyām – here, “they went over the sea that was therefore (like a) delusion,” where the comparison is implied without the particle of similitude

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This technique contrasts with a straightforward upamā, where the likeness is directly expressed. Antargatopamā heightens literary sophistication by engaging the reader’s interpretive imagination and requiring them to discern the concealed comparison. Such usage is common in Sanskrit poetics (kāvya), especially in classical poetry and epic texts, to convey elegance, subtlety, and metaphorical depth.

Summary

• Type: Feminine noun (f.)
• Meaning: Concealed or implicit simile
• Construction: Compound of antargata + upamā
• Function: Omits the comparative particle, leaving the comparison to be intuitively understood
• Context: Classical Sanskrit literature, poetics (kāvya), and epics
• Literary effect: Adds subtlety, interpretive engagement, and metaphorical richness

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By understanding antargatopamā, scholars and readers can appreciate the nuanced artistry of Sanskrit poetry, where comparisons are not always explicitly marked but conveyed through context, imagery, and internalized literary devices.